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Appendix A: Troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions

Wireless A/G Game Adapter

Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit pattern for each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip

(or chipping code). The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data can be recovered. Even if

one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can

recover the original data without the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appears as low

power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowband receivers.

Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air?

WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as with Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum

technology, it has the inherent security feature of scrambling. On the software side, WLAN offers the encryption

function (WEP) to enhance security and access control.

What is WEP?

WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a shared key algorithm, as described in the

IEEE 802.11 standard. For more information, refer to “Appendix B: Wireless Security.”

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Appendix B: Wireless Security

Security Precautions

Wireless A/G Game Adapter

Appendix B: Wireless Security

Linksys wants to make wireless networking as safe and easy for you as possible. The current generation of

Linksys products provide several network security features, but they require specific action on your part for

implementation. So, keep the following in mind whenever you are setting up or using your wireless network.

Security Precautions

The following is a complete list of security precautions to take (as shown in this User Guide) (at least steps 1

through 5 should be followed):

1.

Change the default SSID.

2.

Disable SSID Broadcast.

3.

Change the default password for the Administrator account.

4.

Enable MAC Address Filtering.

5.

Change the SSID periodically.

6.

Use the highest encryption algorithm possible. Use WPA if it is available. Please note that this may reduce

your network performance.

7.

Change the WEP encryption keys periodically.

To ensure network security, steps one through five should be followed, at least.

Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks

Wireless networks are easy to find. Hackers know that in order to join a wireless network, wireless networking

products first listen for “beacon messages”. These messages can be easily decrypted and contain much of the

network’s information, such as the network’s SSID (Service Set Identifier). Here are the steps you can take:

Change the administrator’s password regularly.

With every wireless networking device you use, keep in mind

that network settings (SSID, WEP keys, etc.) are stored in its firmware. Your network administrator is the only

person who can change network settings. If a hacker gets a hold of the administrator’s password, he, too, can

change those settings. So, make it harder for a hacker to get that information. Change the administrator’s

password regularly.

Note:

Some of these security features are

available only through the network router or

access point. Refer to the router or access

point’s documentation for more information.

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Appendix B: Wireless Security

Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks

Wireless A/G Game Adapter

SSID.

There are several things to keep in mind about the SSID:

1.

Disable Broadcast

2.

Make it unique

3.

Change it often

Most wireless networking devices will give you the option of broadcasting the SSID. While this option may be

more convenient, it allows anyone to log into your wireless network. This includes hackers. So, don’t broadcast

the SSID.

Wireless networking products come with a default SSID set by the factory. (The Linksys default SSID is “linksys”.)

Hackers know these defaults and can check these against your network. Change your SSID to something unique

and not something related to your company or the networking products you use.

Change your SSID regularly so that any hackers who have gained access to your wireless network will have to

start from the beginning in trying to break in.

MAC Addresses.

Enable MAC Address filtering. MAC Address filtering will allow you to provide access to only

those wireless nodes with certain MAC Addresses. This makes it harder for a hacker to access your network with

a random MAC Address.

WEP Encryption.

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is often looked upon as a cure-all for wireless security

concerns. This is overstating WEP’s ability. Again, this can only provide enough security to make a hacker’s job

more difficult.

There are several ways that WEP can be maximized:

1.

Use the highest level of encryption possible

2.

Use “Shared Key” authentication

3.

Change your WEP key regularly

WPA.

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is the newest and best available standard in Wi-Fi security. Two modes are

available: Pre-Shared Key and RADIUS. Pre-Shared Key gives you a choice of two encryption methods: TKIP

(Temporal Key Integrity Protocol), which utilizes a stronger encryption method and incorporates Message

Integrity Code (MIC) to provide protection against hackers, and AES (Advanced Encryption System), which utilizes

a symmetric 128-Bit block data encryption. RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) utilizes a

RADIUS server for authentication and the use of dynamic TKIP, AES, or WEP.

Important:

Always remember that each

device in your wireless network MUST use

the same encryption method and encryption

key or your wireless network will not function

properly.

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Appendix B: Wireless Security

Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks

Wireless A/G Game Adapter

WPA Pre-Shared Key

. If you do not have a RADIUS server, select the type of algorithm, TKIP or AES, enter a

password in the Pre-Shared key field of 8-64 characters, and enter a Group Key Renewal period time between

0 and 99,999 seconds, which instructs the Router or other device how often it should change the encryption

keys.

WPA RADIUS

. WPA used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS

server is connected to the Router or other device.) First, select the type of WPA algorithm,

TKIP

or

AES

. Enter

the RADIUS server’s IP Address and port number, along with a key shared between the device and the server.

Last, enter a Group Key Renewal period, which instructs the device how often it should change the encryption

keys.

RADIUS

. WEP used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is

connected to the Router or other device.) First, enter the RADIUS server’s IP Address and port number, along

with a key shared between the device and the server. Then, select a WEP key and a level of WEP encryption,

and either generate a WEP key through the Passphrase or enter the WEP key manually.

Implementing encryption may have a negative impact on your network’s performance, but if you are transmitting

sensitive data over your network, encryption should be used.

These security recommendations should help keep your mind at ease while you are enjoying the most flexible

and convenient technology Linksys has to offer.

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Appendix C: Glossary

Wireless A/G Game Adapter

Appendix C: Glossary

802.11a

- An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps and an

operating frequency of 5GHz.

802.11b

- An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an

operating frequency of 2.4GHz.

802.11g

- An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an

operating frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices.

Access Point

- A device that allows wireless-equipped computers and other devices to communicate with a

wired network. Also used to expand the range of a wireless network.

Adapter

- A device that adds network functionality to your PC.

Ad-hoc

- A group of wireless devices communicating directly with each other (peer-to-peer) without the use of

an access point.

AES

(

A

dvanced

E

ncryption

S

tandard) - A method that uses up to 256-bit key encryption to secure data.

Backbone

- The part of a network that connects most of the systems and networks together, and handles the

most data.

Bandwidth

- The transmission capacity of a given device or network.

Beacon Interval

- Data transmitted on your wireless network that keeps the network synchronized.

Bit

- A binary digit.

Boot

- To start a device and cause it to start executing instructions.

Bridge

- A device that connects different networks.

Broadband

- An always-on, fast Internet connection.

Browser

- An application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the

World Wide Web.

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